3D printing will shape the car industry in the coming future as automakers continue to invest time, energy and of course money into this type of technology. This is a big deal because manufacturers are facing a plethora of external as well as internal challenges, including the infamous supply chain crisis that's been plaguing the industry in recent times.

We know that securing semiconductor chips is the biggest issue and you can't 3D print those (or can you) but the ability to manufacture key components, in-house, with no significant costs after the initial investment, could dramatically improve the output. Especially all those car makers that operate under a more vertically integrated production line.

Bentley has recently shared the details of a £3 mln ($4 mln) investment to double down on what they call 'Additive Manufacturing', a state-of-the-art facility that they've been using to 3D print as many as 15,000 components in 2021, including disc brakes and even the Flying B bonnet ornament.

I've crossposted this article on my blog about cars Flabbergasted LF